10 Best Opening Lines in Mystery Novels
The air of suspense that surrounds a great mystery novel begins with its first line. The opening line sets the tone, introduces intrigue, and hooks the reader, compelling them to dive headfirst into a world of puzzles and enigmas. Here are ten of the best opening lines in mystery novels, lines that have captivated readers and stood the test of time:
1. “In my younger and more vulnerable years, my father gave me some advice that I’ve been turning over in my mind ever since.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald, “The Great Gatsby”
2. “It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.” – George Orwell, “1984”
3. “Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.” – Daphne du Maurier, “Rebecca”
4. “I write this sitting in the kitchen sink.” – Dodie Smith, “I Capture The Castle”
5. “The moment one learns English, complications set in.” – Felipe Alfau, “Chromos”
6. “It was a pleasure to burn.” – Ray Bradbury, “Fahrenheit 451”
7. “When I think of my wife, I always think of her head.” – Gillian Flynn, “Gone Girl”
8. “Someone must have slandered Josef K., for one morning, without having done anything truly wrong, he was arrested.” – Franz Kafka, “The Trial”
9. “The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there.” – L.P. Hartley, “The Go-Between”
10. “I am an invisible man.” – Ralph Ellison, “Invisible Man”
Each of these opening lines serves as a chilling harbinger to the mysteries that unfold within their respective stories. They demonstrate the power of a single sentence to enthral and incite curiosity—a craft mastered by these authors that ensure their novels’ places in the annals of classic literature.